The Memories, Milestones, and causes of our Madness that was the Month of May

May has been such a busy month for the Nutt House it is hard to believe that we are at the tail end of the month and I have yet to write about any portion of the month.  Part of that is because the month has been so busy, though I think some is that I am in denial over the milestones that this month has brought us.  To ensure I actually do get caught up and not further behind, bear with me, and I apologize, but I’m going to attempt to capture the entire month of May and all that it is has brought to the Nutt House is one entry. 

Of course, throughout the month we had our share of normalcy with play dates, My Gym classes, dance classes, swim lessons, family outings – including swimming now that it’s getting warmer (though this first time of the season Brent was AMAZING and since it was still cold to me let me stay nice and warm while the kiddos lasted a whole 20 minutes before they were too cold to continue on), family game time and the such.  Those aren’t meant to be glossed over as many an hour is spent on our everyday activities and they bring not just structure to our lives but fun, developed skills, friendships, good times, memories and a greater closeness toward one another.

Super Kaden swinging his way through My Gym

Kara jumping for joy at the rare chance for her to
enjoy a My Gym class too

Just chillin'

He has as much fun with this barrel as he did a year
ago when we joined My Gym

Happily playing away at Practice & Play

Stork Stands Rule!

So many friends hiding up there

Having fun at the Children's Museum

Best of friends, may this not be foreshadowing their future
(no motorcycles please!)

Building the fort to end all forts

And... then they knock it back down

On a rare sprinkling morning these two were
eager to join me as I finished up my morning walk
with Uno

   

Having fun going down the kids slide at Nozomi pool

So cold, but having so much fun

This cold little man has stolen my heart

Not content with the little slide, Kara quickly took to the larger slide

Though it was cold, she had fun and did it a couple times

Along with swimming, splash pads are a must on our
summer fun to do list!

One of our favorites... the dinosaur museum!!

Yay!  The new dinosaur exploration room is finally finished!

Just relaxin', up here.  On top of a Triceratops!

Ride 'em cowboy!

If only all the little bags of gold they've collected
were really worth anything!

It is a sad day for this mom that Kaden is now
tall enough he doesn't need to be lifted up for his head
 to clearly be seen in this anymore

Yes!  We finished it again!

We stayed until close this day and the kiddos
spent a good 45 minutes creating their own blanket pattern to cover the entire table

Finished product

Post museum gourmet sodas (Kaden's - root beer with chocolate
Kara's - root beer with vanilla and caramel
Mine - lemonade with pomegranate & blueberry...  delish!)

Our family game times are some of my favorite times
simple family togetherness free of anything electronic!
*except the phone capturing the memories that is

Kara enjoying Ariel at a Chick-fil-A meet and greet dinner event
A very happy girl to meet a real life mermaid!!

  

Kaden enjoying some friend time at his friends birthday party
At the train park... such a perfect spot!

Fun to the very end

This little man thinks he's all that as he helps daddy pump
the gas for momma's car

Wherever would we be without our ever present swim lessons

This month Kaden has really started showing some great improvements!

  

Kaden watching intently as we made our first batch
of homemade ice cream earlier this month
Sadly, it was during this time that we burned out the motor
Time for a new machine, I suppose!

After realizing we didn't host a big movie party this school year
we hosted a large one as the school year ended with so many
of our friends over to watch Jungle Book and enjoy treats with us

Unfortunately, this month brought sickness to the Nutt House, starting with Kaden.  On his birthday.  At a dance competition.  Throwing up repeatedly all over himself, me, the car, and in the foyer of the competition.  Can we say good times?  Fortunately, it was just a 24-hour bug and quickly it passed from Kaden to Kara who had her fair share of sickness experiences, starting with outside of a friend’s house when she was about to walk in for a play date.  Again, good times.  After Kara’s 24 hours the same bug passed on to Brent and myself then vanished from the Nutt House as mysteriously as it had appeared.  Sadly, that wasn’t all for the month.  Though not a sickness, we’ve seen a tiredness envelope both Kara and Kaden that we haven’t experienced before.  Sure, with season changes, especially rolling into summer with longer daylight hours we’ve seen adjustments in sleeping patterns and a slow adaptation process, but this has been all month long.  Poor little kiddos just can’t seem to get enough sleep.  They don’t feel tired when they go to bed and wake up seeming to have slept well, but behaviors and baggy eyes tell a different story.  One of fatigue, emotions… oh!  So many emotions!!!  And an overall need for more sleep that each and every day we battle.  This isn't all bad though, as we also had a couple doctor visits this month to stay healthy and strong.  Kaden had his four year check up, which did mean four painful but short shots and Kara had a couple "tooth buggies" filled in at the dentist.  Somehow, this crazy mom scheduled both events for the same day!  Which meant that when both kiddos were done it was time for individual servings of frozen yogurt to help heal the pains away!

Poor sick little man right after Kara's dance competition
Not a fun way to spend a birthday!

Slowly starting to get better

Dentist time!  Thank heavens for gas!!!

Cool truck band-aids slightly help the shots hurt less

Cutest post dentist smile EVER!

A little Fro-Yo always helps the owwies go away

While that sounds and is not very fun that is not all that the month has brought.  We’ve had school and the end of a school year.  Kaden has enjoyed and come far in his first year of preschool.  Next year he’ll go on to Ms. Teddie’s preschool and while I will miss having him with me all the time, the structure, change in teacher and having more kids around will be so very good for him.  Plus, he’s going to have an amazing teacher that makes knowing I won’t have my little guy with me all the time somewhat easier to bear.  Kara, that’s a whole other ball game…. She wrapped up her last year of pre-k and my goodness!  She amazes me every single day with the tenacity and skills she shows in so many different aspects of her life… school included.  She has grown so far in two short years… Kara is starting to read, can confidently write her letters and numbers, knows colors and shapes and just about everything else skillwise she’s going to need in kindergarten next year.  I am not ready for my little princess to grow up and move on to the great big world of public school, yet we are at that point.  She is going to do amazing I have no doubt; I just want to stay in a bubble where neither she or Kaden grow up.  As school wrapped up for these princesses we gave them a graduating into kindergarten garden tea party for joy school graduation.  Kara had so much fun dressing up tea parties are always a hit, so the graduation day was perfection. Kara has made some amazing friends as we’ve joy schooled the past two years and I hope these friendships remain with her long and far in her life.  

Z is for Zoo for these 2 crazy lions

This seems so long ago, yet as recent as last week
all at the same time

And now, on the last day of school...

First day

And again on the last day!

Tea party

With the best of friends

May brought us the last dance competition of the season, the last early morning of makeup and hair, the last nail biting performance of “Tink” to the song, “A Greater Treasure Than a Friend” and all.  So, once again our morning started before sun up as we rushed through breakfast, hair styling and make up so we could get Kara to the competition on time to be the first performer of the day.  In all honesty, she did great, her routine has grown so far over the course of the season and her skill levels leave me awe struck every time I see her perform, but I didn’t think it was the best I’ve ever seen her dance.  I was certain that one of the other girls from her group did a better job with her solo and was for sure going to walk away with a top award.  I had even congratulated the other mom and spent time preparing Kara that she had her turn winning and this time it was someone else’s turn.  Well, my overly critical, seen this dance performed countless times mom mind was proven pleasantly wrong as the judges thought Kara did amazing and she earned 4^th spot overall for all solos aged 8 and under!  So, following through on a commitment made many a month ago we are not as done with solo dancing for the season as we thought as Kara continues to practice on as we prepare to go to nationals at the beginning of July.  I don’t know how she’ll do, but I am excited that so many of our loved ones will get to join us in Las Vegas to see the final performance of Kara’s “Tink” solo dance.  Our tiny dancer has grown so much and though at times I push her for more I could not be more proud of everything she has accomplished as she works hard each and every week.  Kara has a level of tenacity I dream of having and going down this journey with her is one I am proud to do.  

Pre-competition warm ups

Tiny Dancer with a couple of her dancing friends

Strike a pose!

Tiny winning dancer!

This month also brought birthdays for two of our most favorite Nutts, Brent and Kaden.  It is hard for me to believe that Kaden is now four years old.  I’m watching my baby grow up before my very eyes and I find myself stuck in a whirlwind of emotions when I think about it.  Kaden has grown so much this past year…  he is still all boy, still loves trains and cars though his love for dinosaurs and building things (especially Legos) has grown immensely this past year, and Star Wars, I cannot forget Star Wars.  Kaden has developed a love of Star Wars that started off as mimicking something his dad liked and has morphed into a love of his own, though Kaden prefers the bad guys from Star Wars - such as Darth Vader, Storm Troopers, Kylo Ren and many more.  Kaden still exasperates me then with a big boy squeeze of a hug fills a hole inside of me that I don’t realize exists until he hugs me.  There is no one in this world that has that effect on me when hugging me, it’s strange, but true nonetheless.  Kaden is speaking so much better now than a year ago, his diction is clearing up and he’s much easier to understand.  When he talks, he gets so passionate about what’s he’s saying, especially if he starts out, “want to hear something cool?”  His eyes get big, his voice more animated and off he goes, talking a mile a minute wanting to share the latest “cool” thing with whomever will listen.  Kaden is turning into quite the helper, I can’t get him to clean his bedroom without a struggle to save my life, but in the mornings while I’m unloading the dishwasher he will come over and start helping without a word.  Kaden is funny, radiates joy, he’s starting to grasp basic gospel concepts, he’s incredible when it comes to building things, anything related to numbers (adding, counting, etc.), and he has a memory like a steel trap.  This little boy continues to frustrate me like no one else, yet as I said before, fills a gap that otherwise I wouldn’t know existed within me.  He can make me smile, helps me recognize and appreciate the smaller things in life and completes our Nutt House and we were happy and honored to help this little man celebrate his fourth birthday earlier this month. 

Where a dance competition fell on his birthday we stretched his birthday celebrations to start before his birthday and go on for a full week after.  We started by sharing with him his birthday present early, which was a year membership to the new Legoland Discovery Center that recently opened up in Tempe.  Both he and Kara were amazed, enchanted, and quickly in love with the Discovery Center.  Between the rides, the endless supply of Legos to create new whatever you could imagine, everything that is made out of Legos to see, the 4D movie, the play area and so much more Legoland Discovery Center is like a dream come true for our Kaden.  In the short time since Kaden’s birthday we have been back there three times and will be back there many, many more.  The Legoland Discovery Center has been fun for the entire family and has definatley had an impact on Kaden.  In fact, when he grows up, he now wants to be a Master Builder and has a new found love of his Legos and can often be found building, creating, and showing off what he has made as he is now a self-proclaimed Master Builder.

Inside the Arizona Miniland where several valley and Arizona
landmarks are recreated using Legos

Some were interactive where you could push a button
and watch an action take place in the Legos

Starting a Lego concert

Boat racing down Tempe Town Lake

Lego version of the Grand Canyon

Because sometimes they are goofs and it's the only way I can get a photo

Going up, up, up on Merlin's Apprentice ride

So I may be strange, but I LOVED the doors in the restroom! 

Master Builder work area where you can
watch Master Builders at work creating anything
and everything they can image

Creating on the Earthquake tables where you see what you
can create and test its ability to survive an earthquake

Even our big Nutt got in on the fun

So many Legos and so little time

What to create today?

and again today

Inside the Legoland Friends (aka girl Legos) area, posing with the
GREATEST named Lego friend of all time!

Though the angle does not do this justice,
it was uncanny how accurate of a personality
description Lego Stephanie had versus myself!

Hard at work inside the Creative Workshop

Cutest little hedgehogs ever created

Simply amazing

Lego Racers Build & Test area where you
create a race car and race it down the track
*this is one activity that momma Nutt doesn't
do so well

Playing in the Duplo Farm area

Just hanging out with his new buddy

While the Legoland Discovery Center membership was Kaden’s big birthday present of the year that is not all that we did for his birthday.  Where we weren’t able to fully celebrate on his birthday due to dance and him not feeling well the tradition of decorating his bedroom took place the day before his birthday.  Kaden was excited to wake up to a room full of Star Wars themed balloons, streamers across his door, a Star Wars paper chain and much more.  The kiddos really look forward to this Nutt House birthday tradition and once the birthday is over they struggle letting the decorations go.  In fact, there are still many lingering balloons in Kaden’s bedroom that I haven’t been able to convince his to get rid of!  Friday morning (the day before Kaden’s birthday) also brought his birthday breakfast and per his request we had strawberry filled crepes for breakfast then on his birthday, in the late afternoon when he was feeling somewhat better Kaden opened up birthday presents from Kara as well as grandparents.  Once Kaden was feeling better and able to keep food down (and I had recovered from a long weekend) I created his birthday cake – a cake version of the garbage compactor scene from Star Wars Episode Four, A New Hope.  He loved this cake, though I am certain that was largely due to the excessive amount of chocolate frosting and candy on top of the cake. 

Birthday bedroom decorations

Happy Birthday breakfast crepes

He loved his birthday gifts, especially the
booster seat from Kara (no more car seat for this big boy!),
the car track from grandpa and grandma, and a TON of
dinosaurs and a dinosaur fact book from Grammy & Papa

The garbage compactor scene

He only seemed serious because I made his wait to
 eat the cake so I could take the picture

Kaden had a great birthday and we could have stopped there and he would have been happy, I am fairly sure.  However, with his fourth birthday upon us Kaden eagerly awaited his first real birthday party with all of his friends.  Since I was suffering from major mom guilt thanks to him having to attend a dance competition on his birthday we went big for his birthday party and combined two of his great loves – My Gym and Star Wars.  Kaden hosted a Star Wars theme party at My Gym and I have to say, this was THE easiest birthday party ever!  We rented some Star Wars decorations from a friend, had the invitations created on Etsy in the form of lightsabers that Kaden gave to his friends, I made cupcakes, we filled goodie bags and a piñata and after that prep work was done we turned the party over to the staff at My Gym who handled the party set up, led the party activities, supervised the kiddos, and handled the cleanup.  So, once it was time for the party to actually start we were able to sit back and enjoy Kaden’s party without any of the fuss or headache that typically comes with a birthday party.  And to put the cherry on top of the cake, sort to speak…  Kaden loved the party!  Definitely a two thumbs up experience in our book!

Play time!

One of his favorite activities... the Zip Line!

Kaden had a cape put on him and was pulled around in front of all his friends
as Star Wars music played... He was one happy boy!

The birthday celebration crew

One happy, happy boy!

Pinata time!

So much candy, friends and fun!

With Kaden’s birthday celebrations wrapped up by mid-month it was time to start plotting for Brent’s birthday.   Unfortunately, Brent didn’t really want anything for his birthday and I wanted to honor his wishes as when I try to surprise him the surprise doesn’t go as well as planned, especially if it’s going against what he’s asked.  So, all ideas I had were nixed and we chose to give him what I knew he’d enjoy… family time.  Of course, the kiddos worked hard prior to Brent’s birthday (which fell on a Saturday this year) to decorate our bedroom for him, we made his favorite biscuits and gravy with over easy eggs for his birthday breakfast then we set off for a day of family fun.  Our first stop was to the movie theater to watch the remake of one of Brent's favorite classic animated Disney movies, Jungle Book.  The live action version was pleasantly surprising.  A little intense at times for the kiddos but fun overall for all.  Sadly, after the movie a couple melt downs squashed the plans for the rest of the day, so Brent’s birthday was spent just relaxing and cuddling up with the kiddos here at home.  I am ever so grateful for Brent – the man he is… the priorities he has in his life of our Heavenly Father, his family and then his work, I’m thankful for the father that he is, the dedication he gives to supporting our children.  I’m thankful that he supports me so much, encourages me, motivates me, and believes in me as much as he does.  Often times, more than I believe in myself, which exasperates me but I find endearing at the same time.  Brent is a wonderful man and the love of my life and I am honored to be his wife and be here to help celebrate his birthday with him.  Today, on Memorial Day where Brent didn’t have to work we were able to finish celebrating his birthday with a family trip to Main Event where we enjoyed some quality bowling and arcade time together.  The kiddos and Brent kicked my bootie the first game and though my score was nothing to be boasting about the second game, I was quite excited with the improvement I made.  As Kara commented though, after seeing she was no longer winning during the second game, “it doesn’t matter if we win, mom, just that we have fun”.  Very true, Kara, very true.  And fun we definitely did have!

The kiddos enthusiastically decorated Brent's side of the room
all by themselves

Happily watching daddy discover his birthday decorations

Waiting for the movie to start

That smile was well deserved as he rocked the first game!

Spares and strikes came relatively easy to this
future bowler

First game scores

Oh year, she's awesome!

Second game scores

When in doubt, arcade games are always a hit

In addition to the many other adventures of May the Nutt House managed to sneak in some quality one on one experiences.  One of my favorites came when Kaden joined me for a mother son date night at Chick-Fil-A where we were seated as a table, Kaden was given a rose to give to me, we had table side entertainment, an outside show after our dinner, a bouncy house and of course ice cream to top off our night.  The honor was truly mine that night to take my sweet prince Charming, my future knight in shining armor out for the evening.  I relished in the conversations I shared with Kaden, be them short they are still treasures I hold dear and the memories we now share I will always hold dear to my heart.  This little man has the potential of being quite the heart breaker and truth be told, I wouldn’t have it any other way (though I do hope he treats all girls with respect, is kind to them all, etc.).

My handsome Prince Charming 

Kaden loved watching Stevie the entertainer.
He sat front and center and wouldn't move
from his spot until the performance was over

Mmmm... Ice cream, perfect way to end a date

Earlier this month also brought the Priesthood Encampment (aka Father and Son’s campout) where Brent and Kaden headed out for an evening of boy time, camping and smores.  After making sure the boys were set with supplies (in Kaden terms that meant candy, marshmallows, and chocolate) it was time for Kara and I to enjoy some quality girl time.  Friday afternoon after we’d seen the boys off we headed downtown for some one on one time at the Science Center where we journeyed through the visiting Popology exhibit, the recycling area, and a bit of the body area before it was time for us to leave.  While we didn’t see the entire museum we did visit the areas that are Kara’s favorites as well as had fun exploring the real life applications of sci-fi tv shows, movies and books.  After the Science Center we headed to the house of some friends where we had a wonderful girls evening with pizza and a soap making class.  Honestly, the girls had way more fun than the boys did!  *At least in the perspective of this girl (though if I were the one camping I’d probably say that was more fun, as long as the camping was in the mountains and not the desert).  Saturday morning after waking up from our girl sleepover Kara and I went to breakfast at Cracker Barrel, the restaurant of her choice and upon returning home we were pleasantly surprised to find out that thanks in part to Kaden waking up with the sun the boys were home and ready for another Nutt-y fun filled day.

Kara did not understand the E.T. exhibit, clearly,
we need to watch this movie!  (... in a year or three)

So many famous robots, including R2D2, KITT the car,
and a Tardis!

We can build it!

Almost tall enough, almost!

Eye spy, eye spy

MMMM  breakfast!  (and yes, she ate the entire
pancake and part of my yogurt parfait too!)

This little man was excited and eager to camp!
*Especially a special campout just with dad!!
*If only there were trees, shade, and the temperature
wasn't in the 90's!  Too hot!!!

Now, with all of this, and much more that I am forgetting, I am sure... we bid adieu to the month of May.  It has been quite the month, a month full of madness, milestones, and memories.  As we shut the book on May 2016 here are a few of my favorite pictures from the month that well... didn't quite fit in anywhere else.  

A few hours after Kara's dance competition she fell
doing tricks outside of a friends house and skinned up
her face pretty badly.  Fortunately she was not hurt worse!
Full disclosure:  after knowing she wasn't injured worse
my first thought was thank heavens this was after the competition
and not before!

This little goofball... My favorite reason to smile
Wanted his picture taken just like this, while
he was doing tricks in his pj's with a basketball
Man... how I love this little man!

A little post church make up action by this
bright eyed beauty

***Update, as I was trying to catch up on an entire month over two long and tiresome evenings there were a couple items I failed to capture and wanted to rectify that before I get busy and forget, again.

For Kaden's birthday, Brent has received two tickets to go see the Harlem Globetrotters from work.  After having watched the Globetrotters several times on Youtube Kaden was excited to go see them and truth be told, I think Brent's excitement was equal to that of Kaden's.  Well, unfortunately where Kaden had been so sick and throwing up try as we might to find a way for him to go, it just wasn't in the cards. So, with less than three hours before the activity started Brent frantically started calling friends that we thought might enjoy the tickets but as was to be excepted for a Saturday evening, everyone was already busy or had plans and couldn't make it.  Not wanting the tickets to go to waste the decision was made for Brent to take Kara and they'd take lots of videos to send back for Kaden to watch and bring him back a souvenir and that is what ended up happening.  Kaden enthusiastically watched the first couple of videos before the tiredness that he was experiencing kicked in and all he wanted to do was cuddle up and semi-nap against momma, which this momma was completely content to do.  Brent and Kara had a great time watching the Globetrotters perform though they too called it an early night and left before it was over.  The long day of dance had completely caught up with Kara and though she fell asleep on the ride to the Globetrotters the short nap wasn't enough and our own Sleeping Beauty found herself quickly tiring out and ready to come home and dream the night away.

On the topic of Kaden and his birthday, he received one other gift he has had a lot of fun with.  Julianne sent Kaden a smart watch that tells the time, has a camera and a couple games on it.  Though the time telling component is lost on Kaden he has had fun taking pictures and videos of anything and everything he can and has enjoyed curling up in a chair to play a game on his watch.  Thankfully, our little man has a kind heart and has been willing to share the game playing experiences with Kara, Brent or myself.  I love the sharing nature that innately is a part of Kaden and hope it never changes!